Bret Michaels Hospitalized, Poison Skips Nashville Stop Of The Stadium Tour

Shortly before the Nashville stop of The Stadium Tour last night, the members of Poison - sans singer Bret Michaels - came on stage to wish the crowd well and explain the band wouldn't be performing. Just before showtime, Michaels got sick and was hospitalized.

It isn't clear what he is sick from exactly, but lots of reports are talking about COVID infections in the Poison camp. Bret had a reaction to some medicine - but who knows if it was from a COVID treatment, his diabetes or something else entirely.

I hope Bret gets well soon... and that Poison doesn't have to miss more shows for the sake of fans who paid a lot of money for tickets.

pic.twitter.com/dD5eVjJZme

— Bret Michaels (@bretmichaels) July 1, 2022

Bret Michaels suffered a medical emergency just before he was set to get on stage with Poison. https://t.co/5zwBV5paXn

— TMZ (@TMZ) July 1, 2022

First Videos Of 'The Stadium Tour' Emerge

The Stadium Tour finally kicked off last night in Atlanta, Georgia. Videos are starting to pop-up on YouTube and I was watching Twitter and some live feeds of the show last night as clips were available. The big news, of course, was that Tommy Lee broke four ribs a couple of weeks ago and couldn't play the whole Motley Crue set. The band had Tommy Clufetos play some songs after Tommy Lee did a few beginning numbers. He also came back to play the piano on "Home Sweet Home."

Vince Neil didn't sound good. I know, you're shocked. A close video of "Girls, Girls, Girls" is available on YouTube only.

Here's a close-up of Mick Mars playing guitar. He's using a stool now. I'm worried about him in this heat and so much traveling.

Here's the Motley opener, "Wild Side" and Tommy Lee is playing this one.

Poison sounded really good from the clips I saw. We've talked about it before: they are a messy, party band. They don't care about making new music but they also don't try to gloss over their sound with backing tracks and fake effects, either. Here's "Nothin' But A Good Time"

Def Leppard sounds great! They should probably just headline every night. I said what I said. "Take What You Want" - in the rain!

"Hysteria" - also in the rain

You know who else sounded bloody great? Joan Jett, that's who! "I Love Rock n' Roll"

Setlists:

Edit this setlist | More Joan Jett and the Blackhearts setlists

Edit this setlist | More Poison setlists

Edit this setlist | More Mötley Crüe setlists

Def Leppard played four tracks from their new one Diamond Star Halos! This bucks the nostalgia tour trend, and good for them!

Edit this setlist | More Def Leppard setlists

The Stadium Tour Finally Begins Tomorrow... Meanwhile...

The Stadium Tour with Motley Crue and Def Leppard kicks off tomorrow night in Atlanta. Apparently ticket sales are going well - just see the Tweet below.

This is Cool!! pic.twitter.com/EN0PWhldhs

— Vince Neil (@thevinceneil) May 11, 2022

More on my mind is a new documentary on Vince Neil that will premiere later this month on Reelz. Called My Story, the documentary will allow Vince to tell his side of his life and rise to fame and success. Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee are included in the new film. It debuts Sunday, June 26 at 8 p.m.

I have YouTube TV so I do not have access to Reelz. I'm sure it will be on the regular YouTube shortly after its premiere. Should be interesting to say the least.

'Motley Crue's Vince Neil: My Story', a 2 hour documentary, will premiere June 26 at 8 p.m. ET on Reelz. In his own words, Neil will give viewers exclusive insight into his wild ride to fame & his many bumps in that road. #Music pic.twitter.com/WJSQGu5AGq

— Music Beat (@MusicBeat5) June 15, 2022

So Who Will Use Backing Tapes On 'The Stadium Tour'?

The Stadium Tour with Joan Jett, Poison, Motley Crue and Def Leppard kicks off soon. We're going to have a lot of YouTube footage to enjoy - and criticize all the same I think.

Bret Michaels of Poison says the band doesn't use any backing tapes, ever. They practice vocal harmonies. I don't think Joan Jett uses backing tapes to punch up vocals. We all know Motley Crue uses them heavily. Def Leppard uses tracks in some situations - but the vocals are live, at least according to Phil Collen in the interview linked from 2019.

Personally, I don't care if a band uses tracks or not. Live shows will and should sound different from a studio recording. People need to accept that as reality. Of course, a band shouldn't just give up and rely on backing tapes for all vocals and musical parts, either. That's just lazy and not fair to paying customers. Do you expect lots of backing tapes on The Stadium Tour? Do you believe Bret Michaels and his claim?

BRET MICHAELS Says POISON Doesn't Use Any Backing Tracks: 'We Sit At Soundcheck And Work On Those Harmonies' https://t.co/B68sW9NZU3 pic.twitter.com/Q2PG4ojSFG

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) May 28, 2022

As I Figured, 'The Stadium Tour' Adds Even More Dates

Yesterday, I posted that The Stadium Tour added a show in Indianapolis and I assumed there would be more dates added. I was right. Today, Motley Crue announced five more dates added to the tour. Out of curiosity, I looked up the Cincinnati date. There are lots and lots of seats left. Folks like me took the refund back after the first COVID-19 cancellation. I never repurchased and I won't buy in advance for this tour, still. I suspect lots of seats will be available week of the shows for cheap. Anyone else taking this approach?

STADIUM TOUR OF 2022 KICKS OFF THIS JUNE‼️
5 NEW SHOWS ADDED!
NEW DATES ON SALE FEB. 25 AT 10 AM https://t.co/iCEP7noKsk

Early exclusive access to Crüe’s fan pre-sale for five new shows with every purchase of the new Motley Crüe Road Collection Merch - https://t.co/AkehMeSosK pic.twitter.com/jxHWLAfG7V

— Mötley Crüe (@MotleyCrue) February 17, 2022

Another Date Added To The Stadium Tour

The Stadium Tour will head to Las Vegas on September 9. I wonder if this means more added dates will be popping up soon? That's a Friday night, so prime concert time. The date isn't on Motley Crue's website yet, so I'm not sure when tickets go on sale.

Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are set to rock Vegas. https://t.co/TdhqEzF0Bt

— Las Vegas Review-Journal (@reviewjournal) February 16, 2022